kpager does not integrate in the panel but you can put the kpager window on top of the panel or you can make the panel smaller and put kpager beside it..
If you tell me how to change the following aspects of KDE behavior to the way I have them right now in GNOME, I'll switch to KDE right away:
The GNOME pager that I use right now renders a miniature version of each virtual desktop that I have, with miniature windows, in color. I have never been able to get KDE to do the same thing.
Just start "kpager". Does exactly what you want.
In GNOME, panel buttons extend all the way to the edge of the screen. That means, specifically, if my mouse pointer is positioned on the edgemost possible pixel of the panel, I can still click the mouse and execute the panel button. I would like KDE to duplicate this behavior, because edge pixels are very valuable by virtue of being easy to hit.
You haven't used KDE for quite some time, right? KDE does exactly that for a very long time (from v2.1 on AFAIR, but maybe even from v2.0 on)
I have been told to rtfm about a dozen times and invariably when I press the matter the other person admits that they don't know either. I do not think it is even possible to get KDE to do what I describe. If I am wrong, I would really appreciate being told how.
That must be a really, really long time ago because both features are in KDE's default installation.
Actually RedHat was doing this all along. Their only (now ex) KDE-maintainer was not even paid for KDE-packages, so he had to do it in his free time and unpaid.
Actually, it's false, and I suspect you might not know it. GNOME was created by the GNU folks as an alternative to KDE at a time when KDE was dependent on a piece of non-free software, specifically the Qt libraries.
Of course I do know that and it doesn't change the fact that GNOME would not exist without KDE.
Though it's now Free, Qt was at the time "shared source," more or less.
Actually the change from QPL to GPL/QPL did not change anything in real life as the QPL pretty much allowed everything that was needed for a GPL-project like KDE. But I don't want to go through all this license debating again.
RedHat pushes GNOME and GNOME was only created to kill KDE. (Yes, you can mod this down, but it's still the truth and you know it.) RedHat doesn't like KDE and the only reason there were KDE-packages (other than those included in the RedHat releasees) was Bero creating them in his spare time. Yes that's correct, RedHat did not pay their "KDE-maintainer" to create packages for KDE-releases.
If you look at non-technical usegroups, you will see that in areas where KDE-centric distributions dominate (like SuSE does in Europe), about 5 to 15% of users post with Linux, while Linux is pretty much non-existant in American usegroups (although Linux has risen very much in the last months, it's still usually less than 5%).
Coincidence? Maybe. I didn't do statistics on all newsgroups.
(Yes, I do know that usegroup users are not representative for the all computer users, yet is proves that Linux can be used by A LOT of users on the desktop RIGHT NOW and that no magic "formula" is needed. The software is available RIGHT NOW.
Will RedHat's attempts to "nullify" their desktop make it more successful on the desktop? I don't think so (Will GNOME apps use KDE's great printing dialogue that lets you create or even email PDFs? No. Will GNOME PIM apps be aware of the KDE-counterparts? No. Creating a theme does not solve any problem), anyway we will see what happens. They certainly can't do any worse on the desktop than they are currently doing.
likewise, OGG could stand a better chance as an audio codec if an insert-and-be-done program were made. Windows Media Player (and iTunes) has this feature for CD's. You stick it in, it gets the track names and rips it.
KDE's Konqueror does exactly that. Just stick an audio cd in and type audiocd:/ in Konqu's location and see what happens...
Do you even get the licenses as fast as that? I also highly doubt that you get clustering for Windows (or however they call their clustering software) so fast.
Actually the license-hassle and the buerocracy involved (request expenses, negotiate volume agreements, etc.) almost certainly will make a Windows-solution far more expensive in both money and time especially in larger organizations.
In contrast many distributions contain Beowulf (for example SuSE does) so in theory you can start right away. (Of course if you have zero experience it will take some time to get to know how to set it up, but that's also true for the Windows-solution)
More importantly, it will take them 2 years to release anything on XBox which means they come pretty close - too close - to the PS3 launch.
Microsoft's window of opportunity closes when the PS3 will be released. Just like it was impossible to build a competitive x86-console at PS2's launch, it will be impossible at PS3's launch.
Microsoft has 2 choices: Launch a more expensive but less performant XBox2 at the same time or wait 2 years until x86-tech can beat it. - But I'm afraid even the most rabid XBox-defenders will be disappointed when it becomes so clear that x86 is such a crappy gaming platform.
Actually, MS has a 3rd option, not release XBox2 at all and let XBox1 die.
I would say, if someone would write a single control panel-type interface, where the important things could be configured in a centralized locations (e.g. network, software packages, display, keyboard, mouse, etc) and make it blatantly obvious that it should be used (links on the desktop, and in an obviously labeled menu) then I would put Linux up against Windows.
SuSE does exactly that - their YasT2 modules are integrated into the KDE control-center and you can manage *everything* from there, from IP-adress to the default link color.
If any distro got to that point, I would distribute it to every non-gamer I know (games are the big hold up, keeping people I know, from switching).
To misquote the oft-cited Slashdot Linux line - "I'm going to install (%distro) on my parent's home machine!" But would you really? Would you really install Red Hat or Mandrake on your parent's machine, when you know all they need is a web browser, an email client and perhaps an instant messenger client? Would you *really* take the time to install it, secure it, solve dependency issues and then *teach* them step-by-step how to use the OS until they reached the point where they weren't calling you five times a week for support?
Actually this is a perfect example.
With SuSE, I pop in the DVD and less than an hour later I have a complete system, no dependency issues and no hassles complete with Office-suite, mp3 player and ICQ.
With Windows, on the other hand, even when it's preinstalled, you would have to install Winzip, Winamp, MS Office, ICQ and a lot of other stuff.
Of course you also have to value the bucks to buy MS Office or the time to warez it.
Yes, OpenOffice exists for Windows, too, but that also has to be downloaded, which takes a lot of time.
If you don't need many games, Linux is the way to go. Right now.
I still fail to understand how AOL would automatically make a Linux distribution easy to use, where no involvement with AOL would make it mostly just useful for "l33t h4x0rz".
It's all marketing. AOL has like Apple a great marketing department, anything AOL or Apple does will be called easy to use while the same features will be called "only for geeks" when some normal distribution offers them.
Is losing on hardware and now losing on software, too a smart thing?
Rare will never be able to pay the ~20 million/year, a 350 million debt would cost, therefore they will never be profitable. With XBox-only development, it is illusoric to even come near that mark.
First, this is hardly reimplementing the whole thing. The parts are taken from KMail, KNode, the calendar, knotes - Kaplan is merely a container for those components.
But more importantly, it's about the SERVER which will be the FIRST free MS Exchange replacement. (Yes, this means Outlook-compatibility, too.)
I'm a kde user but I also use evolution. Why would I want to switch to Kroupware when evolution already does this and has the ability to connect to exchange servers? Aren't KDE and Gnome already redundant enough?
Well, the whole point is to replace the MS Exchange server. Those MS-server licenses are not really cheap, especially if you take the CALs into account.
Everything is done as KParts, that means you can use your KMail and your KNode as standalone applications or you can use them in Kaplan. - All with the same folders, settings and preferences of course.
But what's even better is that Kroupware will offer an Outlook-compatible alternative for MS Exchange. Many companies already running Linux on servers will use it - and will also make desktop-Linux possible in their organization.
In countries where users are not scared away by RedHat/Gnome, Linux is already making inroads on the desktop (for example non-technical German usegroups already have a 5 - 15% share of Linux-posters. Of course those are not representative for all computer users, but it shows that Linux is already used by A LOT of people on the desktop.), this will fuel the adaption even more.
I think it's pretty realistic that Microsoft will lose their domination outside of USA within the next 3 years. (Of course the majority will still run Windows, but Linux will no longer be neglectible - which means game companies will have to offer games, business companies will port their apps - no more MS domination. I'd say about 25 to 30% Linux marketshare is needed to break this domination.)
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kpager does not integrate in the panel but you can put the kpager window on top of the panel or you can make the panel smaller and put kpager beside it..
The GNOME pager that I use right now renders a miniature version of each virtual desktop that I have, with miniature windows, in color. I have never been able to get KDE to do the same thing.
Just start "kpager". Does exactly what you want.
In GNOME, panel buttons extend all the way to the edge of the screen. That means, specifically, if my mouse pointer is positioned on the edgemost possible pixel of the panel, I can still click the mouse and execute the panel button. I would like KDE to duplicate this behavior, because edge pixels are very valuable by virtue of being easy to hit.
You haven't used KDE for quite some time, right? KDE does exactly that for a very long time (from v2.1 on AFAIR, but maybe even from v2.0 on)
I have been told to rtfm about a dozen times and invariably when I press the matter the other person admits that they don't know either. I do not think it is even possible to get KDE to do what I describe. If I am wrong, I would really appreciate being told how.
That must be a really, really long time ago because both features are in KDE's default installation.
Look, "creating an alternative to replace something" is the same as "trying to kill something", but it's not that important.
Of course I do know that and it doesn't change the fact that GNOME would not exist without KDE.
Though it's now Free, Qt was at the time "shared source," more or less.
Actually the change from QPL to GPL/QPL did not change anything in real life as the QPL pretty much allowed everything that was needed for a GPL-project like KDE. But I don't want to go through all this license debating again.
KDE can do everything Windows can do - and much more.
Just two facts:
Fact I: Creating a theme won't make interoperation any better, it will only look as it would.
Fact II: Instead of having 2 major desktops (KDE and GNOME) you have 3 (KDE, GNOME and RedHat's mixture).
Macs have a default interface. Windows has a default interface. Linux systems should as well.
All distributions except one use KDE as the default interface.
Now you explain to me how this one distributor changing from GNOME to KDE-GNOME mixture is a step towards a default interface.
All major distributions are using KDE as default except one that is using GNOME.
In 2 months all major distributions are using KDE as default except one that is using some strange newly created mixture of KDE and GNOME.
Now you can speculate what RedHat had to do to create a unified desktop and wether their "nullifying" efforts are a step towards that goal.
RedHat pushes GNOME and GNOME was only created to kill KDE. (Yes, you can mod this down, but it's still the truth and you know it.) RedHat doesn't like KDE and the only reason there were KDE-packages (other than those included in the RedHat releasees) was Bero creating them in his spare time. Yes that's correct, RedHat did not pay their "KDE-maintainer" to create packages for KDE-releases.
If you look at non-technical usegroups, you will see that in areas where KDE-centric distributions dominate (like SuSE does in Europe), about 5 to 15% of users post with Linux, while Linux is pretty much non-existant in American usegroups (although Linux has risen very much in the last months, it's still usually less than 5%).
Coincidence? Maybe. I didn't do statistics on all newsgroups.
(Yes, I do know that usegroup users are not representative for the all computer users, yet is proves that Linux can be used by A LOT of users on the desktop RIGHT NOW and that no magic "formula" is needed. The software is available RIGHT NOW.
Will RedHat's attempts to "nullify" their desktop make it more successful on the desktop? I don't think so (Will GNOME apps use KDE's great printing dialogue that lets you create or even email PDFs? No. Will GNOME PIM apps be aware of the KDE-counterparts? No. Creating a theme does not solve any problem), anyway we will see what happens. They certainly can't do any worse on the desktop than they are currently doing.
This is why every commercial package gets bloated and reinvents the wheel numerous times.
KDE's Konqueror does exactly that. Just stick an audio cd in and type audiocd:/ in Konqu's location and see what happens...
To find out, post in a pro-MS forum (or in *any* forum, it works even on Slashdot) that you are using Win98 and have some kind of problem.
At least 10 Microsofties will fall over you and will scream at you: "upgrade!", "upgrade!", "everything execpt Win2K/XP sucks!".
On one hand you get vendor lock-in and an EULA that can randomly mutate with every service-pack.
on the other hand you get a vendor-agnostic solution without any license hassles plus 200000$ on top.
And now you ask if it's "worth it".
Do you even get the licenses as fast as that? I also highly doubt that you get clustering for Windows (or however they call their clustering software) so fast.
Actually the license-hassle and the buerocracy involved (request expenses, negotiate volume agreements, etc.) almost certainly will make a Windows-solution far more expensive in both money and time especially in larger organizations.
In contrast many distributions contain Beowulf (for example SuSE does) so in theory you can start right away. (Of course if you have zero experience it will take some time to get to know how to set it up, but that's also true for the Windows-solution)
Microsoft's window of opportunity closes when the PS3 will be released. Just like it was impossible to build a competitive x86-console at PS2's launch, it will be impossible at PS3's launch.
Microsoft has 2 choices: Launch a more expensive but less performant XBox2 at the same time or wait 2 years until x86-tech can beat it. - But I'm afraid even the most rabid XBox-defenders will be disappointed when it becomes so clear that x86 is such a crappy gaming platform.
Actually, MS has a 3rd option, not release XBox2 at all and let XBox1 die.
SuSE does exactly that - their YasT2 modules are integrated into the KDE control-center and you can manage *everything* from there, from IP-adress to the default link color.
If any distro got to that point, I would distribute it to every non-gamer I know (games are the big hold up, keeping people I know, from switching).
Do that.
Actually this is a perfect example.
With SuSE, I pop in the DVD and less than an hour later I have a complete system, no dependency issues and no hassles complete with Office-suite, mp3 player and ICQ.
With Windows, on the other hand, even when it's preinstalled, you would have to install Winzip, Winamp, MS Office, ICQ and a lot of other stuff.
Of course you also have to value the bucks to buy MS Office or the time to warez it.
Yes, OpenOffice exists for Windows, too, but that also has to be downloaded, which takes a lot of time.
If you don't need many games, Linux is the way to go. Right now.
It's all marketing. AOL has like Apple a great marketing department, anything AOL or Apple does will be called easy to use while the same features will be called "only for geeks" when some normal distribution offers them.
Also this adds up. MS will need over 1 billion PER YEAR just to keep XBox alive.
Is losing on hardware and now losing on software, too a smart thing?
Rare will never be able to pay the ~20 million/year, a 350 million debt would cost, therefore they will never be profitable. With XBox-only development, it is illusoric to even come near that mark.
The components (KMail, KOrganizer, KNode and knotes) will continue to be available seperately
So everybody should be happy, right? - Wrong, some people will always whine, no matter what.
But more importantly, it's about the SERVER which will be the FIRST free MS Exchange replacement. (Yes, this means Outlook-compatibility, too.)
Well, the whole point is to replace the MS Exchange server. Those MS-server licenses are not really cheap, especially if you take the CALs into account.
But what's even better is that Kroupware will offer an Outlook-compatible alternative for MS Exchange. Many companies already running Linux on servers will use it - and will also make desktop-Linux possible in their organization.
In countries where users are not scared away by RedHat/Gnome, Linux is already making inroads on the desktop (for example non-technical German usegroups already have a 5 - 15% share of Linux-posters. Of course those are not representative for all computer users, but it shows that Linux is already used by A LOT of people on the desktop.), this will fuel the adaption even more.
I think it's pretty realistic that Microsoft will lose their domination outside of USA within the next 3 years. (Of course the majority will still run Windows, but Linux will no longer be neglectible - which means game companies will have to offer games, business companies will port their apps - no more MS domination. I'd say about 25 to 30% Linux marketshare is needed to break this domination.)
Microsoft is starting to sound like a proprietary Unix-vendor from the 90's. In the end, Linux will win.